The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-09-07
A SURGEONS LIFE.

A Page from the Experience OF a Famous
Physician and Surgeon.
From the Autobiography OF the late Dr.. Gross.I
have always maintained that 1t is im-
possible for any man to be great surgeon
if he is destitute, even in a considerable
degree, OF the finer feelings OF our nature.
/ have often lain awake for hours the
night before an important operation, and
suffered great mental distress for days after
it was over, until was certain my patient
was out of danger. l do not think il is
possible for a criminal to feel much worse
the night before his execution than a
surgeon when he knoE VS. that upon his skill
and attention must depend the fate of
valuable citizen, husband, father, mother
or child. Surgery under such ciroum-
stances is a terrible tsskmsster, feeding.
like vulture, upon mans vitals. 1t is
surprising that any surgeon in large
practice should ever attain to q respectable
old sge, so great are the wear and tear of
mind and body.
The world has seen many a sad picture.
will draw one of the surgeon. 1t is mid.
day; the sun is bright and beautiful; all
nature is redolent of Joy; men and women
crowd the street, arraye6 in their best, and
all, apparently, is peace and happiness
within and without. In a large house, al
most overhanging this street so full OF life
and geyety, lies upon a couch an emacia-
ted figure, once one of the sweetest aud
loveliest of her sex, confiding and affec-
tionate wife, and the adored mother of
numerous children, the subject of fright
| full disease of one of her limbs, or, it may
be, of her Jaw, IL not still more impor-
tant part of her body. In an adjoining
| room is the surgeon, with his assistants
spreading out his instruments and gettin )
| things in readiness for the i'm
pending. operation. He assigns to
each his appropriate place. One
| administers chloroiorm; another takes
charge of the limb; one screws down the
touTniquet upon the principal artery, and
| another holds himself in readiness to follow
| the knife with his sponge. The flaps are
| soon formed, the bone severed, the vessels
tied, and the huge wound Appropriated.
The woman is pale and chastity, the pulse
clammy Precipitation, the voice husky, the
sight indistinct. Some one whispers in
to the ear of the busy surgeon, 1.-THE
patient, / fear, is dying" Ressoratives are
administered, the pulse gradually rises,
and after few hours of hard work and
terrible anxiety reaction occurs. The poor
woman was only faint from the joint in
flueDce Of the aDasthatic shock and loss OF
blood. An assistant, q kind of sentinel, Is
placed as a guard over her. with instruc.
tions to watch her with the closest care,
and to send word Inc moment the slightest
change for the worse is perceived.
The surgeon goes about his business
visits other patients on the way, and al
length, long after the usual hou., he sits
down, worried and exhausted, to his cold
and comfortless meal, with a mouth almost
as dry and voice as husky as his PATENT
He eats mechanically, exchanges hardly 3
word with any member of his family, and
sullenly retires to his study, to prescribe
for his patients-never, during all THU
time, forgetting the poor mutilsted objec
he left q few hours ago. He is about to III
down to get q moments repose after thu
severe toll of the day, when suddenly hs
hears loud ring of the bell, and servant
breathless with excitement, begs his I'm